What watch nerd has not dreamt of designing their own watch? Even if it’s not an entirely unique design, we’ve at least looked at watches we like and thought, “that’s cool, but I wish they had done this one thing differently,” or “if only they would release that watch with this other dial.” The watch modders of the world hear those same little voices in their heads, and they listen to them, opening cases and prying off bezels to swap in the parts the factory would not. I too, have felt that urge. I haven’t done the work myself (the Bum knows his limitations), but I did have my man Sam at Afram Jewelers mod my Anstead Oceanus with a black date disk and whip up a Seiko Fifty Five Fathoms with a Dagaz dial while he was at it. That was fun, but not nearly as much as when the good folks at namokiMODS let me go all “kid in a candy store” and spec out a full-custom watch from their online parts catalog. Today, I review my own creation: The Snow Beast.
Based in Singapore, namokiMODS is a one-stop shop for Seiko modification parts, offering a selection of aftermarket parts that will interchange with the most popular Seiko bits. They will sell you literally everything you need. Dials and hands? Of course. Bezels and inserts? Naturally. Crystals, case backs, movements, crowns? That would be a yes, yes, yes, and yes. You can choose from several cases in the styles of Seiko and otherwise, select your chapter ring of choice, pick your movement and date wheel, strap or bracelet, and even order all the tools you need for the job. It is all right there.
After debating several designs, I ultimately focused on the brand’s white Great Wave dial. I like the fact that all of namokiMODS’s dials are either sterile or signed with the brand’s own attractive “N” logo. You won’t find any “Feiko” dails here. The Great Wave features an engraved wave pattern, applied and polished markers filled with C3 SuperLuminova, and a printed black index and date frame.
I thought the engraved waves resembled snowdrifts, and so came the inspiration for the rest of the build. This would be the Snow Beast. I must confess, the name stuck in my head not for any association with polar bears or Yeti, but for the way Nia Vardalos described her wedding dress in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Regardless, this watch would be very big, very white, and very shiny.
I chose the brushed and polished MM300 case. I’ve always admired the way Seiko made the objectively large Marine Master 300 case (43mm wide, 48mm long) manageable by employing a broad bevel on the upper edges and a dramatic undercut down below. Between the combination of polished and brushed surfaces, the way the angles meet at the tips of the lugs, and that sliver of a brushed edge where they meet, it can be a challenging case to finish it properly. Indeed, the Aquatico Poseidon I reviewed in June used a similar style case and got it very, very wrong. I did not have a real MM300 with which to compare, but I know the real item has crisp edges and the insanely gorgeous Zaratsu polishing. Of course, the namokiMODS MM300 case is not at that level and looks softer all around, but I’m still pleased with its quality for the price.
I felt that dramatic angles and blunt ends of the case would go well with a similarly aggressive bezel, so I selected a polished namokiMODS “Chunky” bezel with its broadly spaced, scallops. Being a stickler for matching edge designs, I chose a polished Chunky screw-down crown too, signed with the Seiko “S.”
For the bezel insert, went with glossy white ceramic, continuing the snow theme. The black markers tied into the black index on the dial, and this, in turn, necessitated black hands for balance. My handset choice was easy as I had zeroed in on namokiMODS’s unique Kunai style. They are supposed to resemble Japanese throwing knives. I have never seen a Japanese throwing knife, but these certainly look lethal.
The bracelet is a 20mm Jubilee style. There is no real winter connection here; I just love those rounded links, and the polished centers in on the otherwise brushed links are a nice way of echoing the dual finishes on the case. I’d say the namokiMODS bracelet is arguably better than those I’ve encountered on many affordably priced Seikos. The end links are solid, fit snugly into the MM300 case, and the whole thing has a reassuring heft. The flip lock clasp is nothing terribly special, but it does the trick.
I rounded out my order with a brushed rehaut, a plain polished case back, and a domed sapphire crystal because I will always – always – choose a dome.
My final order was as follows.
- Case: Brushed/polished MM300, $81
- Crystal: Domed sapphire, $41
- Crown: Chunky polished, $26
- Bezel: Chunky polished, $37
- Insert: White ceramic Sub-style, $37
- Dial: White Great Wave, $49
- Hands: Black Kunai, $24
- Chapter ring: Brushed stainless, no markers, $20
- Bracelet: Brushed/polished Jubilee, $73
- Caseback: Polished, $17
